우즈베키스탄 학습자의 한국어 단모음 지각 오류 양상

Perception Error Patterns in Korean Monophthongs by Uzbek Learners

This study investigates the perceptual error patterns in Korean monophthongs among intermediate-level Uzbek learners of Korean. The research identifies which factors influence vowel misperception, such as syllable structure, preceding consonants, and individual vowel characteristics. Utilizing a repeated-measures design, a perception experiment was conducted with ten female Uzbek learners, yielding a total of 1,258 response tokens. The results show an overall perception error rate of 8.0%, with no significant differences based on proficiency level or syllable structure. However, significant differences were observed depending on the manner of articulation of the preceding consonant; perception errors increased notably when the consonant was the Korean liquid. Vowel-specific analysis revealed that the vowels /ㅓ/, /ㅗ/, /ㅜ/ and /ㅣ/ had higher error rates, with frequent confusion observed between /ㅓ/ and /ㅗ/, and between /ㅜ/ and /ㅡ/. The findings also highlight an asymmetry between perception and production. While learners often confused /ㅣ/ and /ㅡ/ in production, they showed greater accuracy in perception, suggesting different cognitive pathways in the two processes. The observed vowel confusions aligned with the ongoing Korean vowel shift, and were further influenced by the learners’ L1 phonological systems, such as the unstable articulation of the Uzbek /o'/ and the absence of a direct equivalent for the Korean /ㄹ/. These findings underscore the importance of addressing L1 interference and structural aspects of the Korean vowel system.